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Empathy Fatigue at Personal Assistants
No full textV magistrskem delu je obravnavan pojav sočutne izčrpanosti pri osebnih asistentih. Gre za poklic, ki temelji na neposredni pomoči in tesnem medosebnem odnosu z uporabnikom, zato je povezan z visokimi čustvenimi in psihičnimi obremenitvami. V teoretičnem delu so predstavljeni pomagajoči poklici, koncept emocionalnega dela ter poklic osebnega asistenta. Opisane so naloge, pogoji dela, pravice in obveznosti asistentov ter kompleksnost odnosa med njimi, uporabniki in njihovimi svojci, ki pogosto presega klasične okvire delovnih razmerij. Poseben poudarek je namenjen pojavoma izgorelosti in sočutne izčrpanosti, simptomom, posledicam ter možnim strategijam preprečevanja.
Raziskava temelji na kvalitativnem pristopu in osvetljuje izkušnje osebnih asistentov pri vsakodnevnem delu. Rezultati kažejo, da so asistenti pogosto izpostavljeni čustvenim obremenitvam, nejasnim mejam v odnosu z uporabniki in njihovimi svojci ter zahtevnim delovnim pogojem. Čeprav svoje delo večinoma doživljajo kot smiselno in pomembno, se soočajo s tveganjem za sočutno izčrpanost. Izpostavljajo tudi pomanjkanje ustrezne sistemske podpore in nizko finančno ovrednotenje. Občutek imajo, da jih država ne ceni in vrednoti enako kot zaposlene v primerljivih skrbstvenih poklicih.
Ugotovljeno je, da ima sočutna izčrpanost večplastne posledice, od zmanjšane čustvene vpletenosti in depersonalizacije do zmanjšane kakovosti opravljenih storitev, kar neposredno vpliva tudi na uporabnike storitev pomoči. Zato je nujno vzpostaviti učinkovite ukrepe za preprečevanje teh pojavov. Med ključnimi rešitvami izstopa redna strokovna podpora v obliki supervizije, intervizije in individualnih svetovalnih pogovorov, ki bi asistentom omogočali sprotno predelavo težkih izkušenj in čustvenih obremenitev. Prav tako je pomembno spodbujati kontinuirana izobraževanja in usposabljanja, kjer bi asistenti razvijali tako strokovne kot tudi čustvene kompetence, ki so ključne za opravljanje dela.
Pomembno je tudi spodbujati skrb zase in samopomoč. Spodbujanje teh praks skupaj z možnostjo boljše organizacijske podpore in primernim finančnim ovrednotenjem bi zmanjšalo tveganje za izčrpanost. Na sistemski ravni pa je treba izboljšati zakonodajno ureditev področja osebne asistence, zagotoviti primerljive pravice z drugimi poklici v socialnem varstvu ter povečati družbeno prepoznavnost tega dela.
Na osnovi prebrane literature in opravljene raziskave je mogoče skleniti, da bi z boljšimi pogoji dela, večjo podporo ter širšo družbeno priznano vrednostjo poklica osebnega asistenta lahko pomembno izboljšali kakovost življenja tako asistentov kot uporabnikov osebne asistence. S tem bi bila zagotovljena tudi dolgoročna trajnost izvajanja osebne asistence kot ene ključnih storitev za neodvisno življenje oseb z invalidnostjo.This master’s thesis examines the phenomenon of compassion fatigue among personal assistants. This profession is based on direct support and close interpersonal relationships with users and is therefore associated with high emotional and psychological strain. The theoretical part presents the helping professions, the concept of emotional labour, and the profession of the personal assistant. It describes the tasks, working conditions, rights and obligations of assistants, as well as the complexity of their relationships with users and their families, which often go beyond the traditional framework of employment relations. Particular attention is given to burnout and compassion fatigue, their symptoms, consequences, and possible prevention strategies.
The research is based on a qualitative approach and highlights the experiences of personal assistants in their everyday work. The findings show that assistants are often exposed to emotional burdens, unclear boundaries in relationships with users and their families, and demanding working conditions. Although they generally perceive their work as meaningful and important, they face the risk of compassion fatigue. They also highlight a lack of adequate systemic support and low financial recognition. Many feel that the state does not value or reward them to the same extent as employees in comparable caregiving professions.
The thesis finds, based on the reviewed literature, that compassion fatigue has multifaceted consequences, ranging from reduced emotional engagement and depersonalisation to a decline in the quality of services provided, which directly affects service users. It is therefore essential to establish effective measures to prevent these phenomena. Key solutions include regular professional support in the form of supervision, intervision, and individual counselling, which would allow assistants to process difficult experiences and emotional strain as they arise. Equally important is the promotion of continuous education and training, enabling assistants to develop both professional and emotional competences that are essential for carrying out their work.
It is also crucial to encourage self-care and peer support. Promoting such practices, combined with stronger organisational support and fairer financial recognition, would help reduce the risk of exhaustion. At the systemic level, improvements are needed in the legislative regulation of personal assistance, ensuring comparable rights to those of other professions in social care, and increasing public recognition of this work.
Based on the reviewed literature and the conducted research, it may be concluded that better working conditions, stronger professional support, and greater social recognition of the value of the personal assistant profession would significantly improve the quality of life of both assistants and users of personal assistance. At the same time, this would ensure the long-term sustainability of personal assistance as one of the key services for independent living for people with disabilities
Assessing the long-term feasibility of net-zero energy houses in Slovenia
No full textThis study assesses the long-term viability of high-performance detached houses in Slovenia as net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) under future climate change. Using a bottom-up approach, over one million energy models—calibrated against a sample of 78 real houses—were simulated across 12 Slovenian cities. The analysis integrated future climate projections from a 20-model ensemble (SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0) with scenarios for technological advancements in HVAC and photovoltaic (PV) systems. Our findings demonstrate that, under optimistic technology development scenarios, projected efficiency gains significantly outweigh the climate-driven rise in cooling demand. Specifically, the solar-ready roof area required to achieve winter energy balance is projected to decrease by a factor of up to 6.5 by 2080, making long-term NZEB status attainable. However, achieving a year-round energy balance remains a critical challenge, particularly during winter in colder regions, where gable roofs perform poorly for PV generation compared to pitched or flat roofs. The results highlight that roof design is a decisive factor for NZEB feasibility. We conclude that realizing Slovenia\u27s NZEB potential requires a shift away from restrictive, one-size-fits-all urban planning guidelines towards more flexible, site-specific design frameworks that optimize on-site renewable energy generation
Influence of remelting on AlSiCu(Fe) alloy properties
No full textThe focus of casting production on raw materials as a starting point of all industrial value chains is more intense due to legislative and recently the difficulties faced by casting manufacturers. Critical (CRMs) and strategic raw materials (SRMs) are often indispensable inputs for a wide set of strategic sectors including renewable energy, the digital industry, the space and defence sectors and health sector which are all connected to the metal industry. Aluminium and its alloys plays an important CRMs and SRMs. Recycling has become a very important term for environmental protection as it reduces the carbon footprint of the foundry supply chain. The importance of recycling or the use of secondary or scrap raw materials is demonstrated by the fact that only 5% of greenhouse gases are released in the production process compared to the production of primary aluminium. Standard aluminium alloy AlSiCu(Fe) (EN AC 46000) is widely used in the automotive and transport industry. High mechanical properties such as strength and hardness, as well as elongation and corrosion resistance are the main advantages of AlSiCu(Fe) alloy. The quality of an alloy is mainly influenced by the properties of the raw material, the melting treatment and the casting technology. The significant use of secondary, i.e. recycled raw material and also of CRM, requires special attention to the chemical composition due to possible deterioration caused by repeated remelting, which can lead to a deterioration of mechanical and other performance properties. A prerequisite for good functional properties is the development of the microstructure. In this work, the influence of completely returned material (secondary raw material—scrap) as the only input charge material for the production of AlSiCu(Fe) alloys by remelting on the development of the microstructure due to thermodynamic interactions of elements present was investigated. The presence of wide range of alloying elements AlSiCu(Fe) alloys indicates development α-AlSiM (M=Cr, Fe and Mn), β-AlFeSi, AlCu and even more complex one such as AlCuMgSi using theoretical modelling. Complex solidification path indicates primary aluminium α, eutectic phase α+β, intermetallic phase on the iron base in AlFeSi and “Chinese script” morphology, intermetallic phase on the magnesium and copper base such as AlCu and complex intermetallics such as AlCuMgSi phase. Thermodynamic effects of elements interaction during solidification sequence significantly influence on solidification path and manner. Although the investigated samples exhibit high tensile strength and elongation, a slight deterioration of the chemical composition, and therefore in thermodynamic effect, has a significant influence on the development of the microstructure. Despite the deterioration of chemical composition, obtained microstructure was correct and, therefore, justified achieved high mechanical properties. Based on the investigation of the thermodynamic, microstructural and mechanical properties of the secondary AlSiCu(Fe) alloy, the completely return raw material was characterised as a high-quality charge material with good application and recycling potential
Development of a cellular model for environmental stress detection based on quantification of mitochondrial morphology from fluorescence microscopy images
No full textMitohondriji so kompleksni organeli, ki sodelujejo v procesih presnove, apoptoze in signaliziranja znotraj celice. V procesu mitohondrijske fuzije se združujejo v večje mrežaste strukture, le-te pa lahko zaradi različnih dejavnikov v procesu mitohondrijske fizije ponovno razpadejo na manjše fragmente. Krajše mitohondrije povezujemo s povišanim oksidativnim stresom in razvojem patofizioloških procesov, kot so presnovne motnje, miopatije in nevrodegenerativne bolezni. Njihova morfologija tako dobro nakazuje na stanje celice, zato je natančna in objektivna kvantifikacija morfoloških značilnosti ključna za razumevanje in spremljanje bolezenskih procesov. Pristopi za vrednotenje fuzije in fizije mitohondrijev temeljijo na uporabi fluorescenčne mikroskopije. Razširjena je kvalitativna ocena, kjer ročno razvrstimo celice v ustrezno kategorijo glede na morfologijo mitohondrijev. Analiza je subjektivna in zamudna, zato so razvili računalniške algoritme, ki omogočajo objektivno kvantifikacijo mitohondrijske morfologije, vendar so le-ti omejeni glede na dostopnost in namen uporabe. Tako se pojavlja potreba po razvoju novih ali nadgradnji obstoječih algoritmov. V ta namen smo z razvojem algoritma v programu ImageJ nadgradili algoritem »MiNA«, ki omogoča kvantitativno analizo dolžine mitohondrijev na slikah fluorescenčne mikroskopije. Ustreznost celičnega modela smo preučevali pri treh celičnih linijah (LA-4, MH-S in MLg), izpostavljenih različnim koncentracijam H2O2 (0 mM, 0,3 mM in 3 mM) in medijem z različnim deležem hranil (LCIS (pufer, ki ne vsebuje hranil), kompletno celično gojišče ter mešanica LCIS in celičnega gojišča v razmerju 50:50). Celice smo izpostavili oksidativnemu stresu, za katerega smo predpostavili, da spodbuja fizijo mitohondrijev, in kratkotrajnemu stradanju, za kar smo domnevali, da pripomore k njihovi fuziji. Tretirane celice smo barvali s fluorescenčnim barvilom MitoTracker Green in jih opazovali s konfokalnim fluorescenčnim mikroskopom. Slike smo analizirali z nadgrajenim algoritmom, kjer smo v večini primerov s povečanjem oksidativnega stresa zaznali pričakovano krajšanje dolžine mitohondrijev. Kratkotrajno stradanje je opazno povzročilo podaljševanje mitohondrijev le v primeru, ko so bile celice izpostavljene dodatnemu stresorju (3 mM H2O2). Rezultati magistrskega dela so pokazali, da z razvitim algoritmom na osnovi celičnega modela zadovoljivo kvantificiramo morfologijo mitohondrijev in tako le-ta predstavlja ustrezno orodje za nadaljnjo preučevanje mehanizmov mitohondrijske dinamike ter uporabo v raziskavah celičnih odzivov na druge zunanje dejavnike.Mitochondria are complex organelles involved in cellular metabolism, apoptosis, and intracellular signaling. During mitochondrial fusion, they merge into larger interconnected networks, whereas various factors can trigger mitochondrial fission, causing these networks to break apart into smaller fragments. Shorter mitochondria are associated with elevated oxidative stress and the development of pathophysiological conditions such as metabolic disorders, myopathies, and neurodegenerative diseases. Their morphology therefore serves as a reliable indicator of cellular state, making precise and objective quantification of morphological traits essential for understanding and monitoring disease processes. Approaches for characterizing mitochondrial fusion and fission primarily rely on fluorescence microscopy. Qualitative assessment is a common method in which cells are manually categorized based on visual assessment of mitochondrial morphology. However, this type of analysis is subjective and time-consuming, leading to the development of computer algorithms that enable objective quantification of mitochondrial morphology - although these models are often inaccessible or limited to specific use cases. Consequently, there is a growing need for new algorithms or improved versions of existing ones. To address this, we enhanced the “MiNA” algorithm by developing an ImageJ-based algorithm that enables quantitative analysis of mitochondrial length in fluorescence microscopy images. We evaluated the suitability of our cellular model using three cell lines (LA-4, MH-S, and MLg), exposed to different concentrations of H2O2 (0 mM, 0.3 mM, and 3 mM) and to media containing varying levels of nutrients (LCIS (a nutrient-free buffer), complete cell culture medium, and a 50:50 mixture of LCIS and complete medium). Cells were subjected to oxidative stress, which we hypothesized would promote mitochondrial fission, and to short-term starvation, which we expected to promote mitochondrial fusion. Treated cells were stained with the fluorescent dye MitoTracker Green and imaged using a confocal fluorescence microscope. Image analysis performed with the upgraded algorithm revealed, in most cases, a consistent shortening of mitochondrial length with increasing oxidative stress. Short-term starvation resulted in mitochondrial elongation, but only when cells were simultaneously exposed to an additional stressor (3 mM H2O2). The results of the master’s thesis showed that the algorithm, based on the established cell model, provides reliable quantification of mitochondrial morphology and thus represents a suitable tool for further investigation of the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dynamics, as well as for potential use in studies of cellular responses to less-explored external factors
Urban thermal data analysis over the period 1948–2022
No full textThe aim of the study was to characterize the intensity, frequency and duration of extreme high temperature events and their variability over a period of 75 years (1948–2022) for Ljubljana, Slovenia. This study uses 23 thermal indices recommended by the WMO (ETCCDI) based on daily maximum and minimum air temperatures, retrieved from the Slovenian Environment Agency. The study conducted showed an increase in heat stress risk during the summer months over the last 75 years, with particularly pronounced changes since the 1990s. The observed increase in air temperature was greater for extreme than for average temperatures. The trends in annual average maximum, minimum and daily temperatures were all positive and significant with rates of 0.37 °C/decade, 0.41 °C/decade and 0.39 °C/decade respectively. As a result of these changes, the number of hot days, tropical nights, intensity, frequency and duration of heatwaves (HW) have also increased. HW are becoming a growing problem in Ljubljana, as all HW indices examined are increasing: number of HW (trend 0.5 events/decade), frequency (2.0 days/decade), magnitude (0.36 °C/decade) and maximum amplitude (0.73 °C/ decade). Until recently, these events were only typical of summer, but now they occur in May and even last into September. The thermal heat sum indices, heating degree days (HDDheat) and cooling degree days (CDDcool), indicators of weather-related energy consumption for heating and cooling buildings, showed a clear change, namely a decrease in HDDheat and an increase in CDDcool. The city has experienced pronounced urban growth, which is accompanied by significant changes in the area surrounding the measurement site, which, together with climate change, exacerbate the risk of heat exposure. Despite numerous measures already taken to reduce heat stress in the city, it remains a problem in the summer months, especially given the prediction that conditions will worsen in the future. It is therefore necessary to continue monitoring temperature conditions and local and temporal changes, which is the responsibility of the National Meteorological Service. Further studies on urban characteristics and human thermal comfort parameters are also needed to assess local vulnerability. In addition, some complementary measurements could be carried out to collect data on spatial variations, which is an important step in developing a plan to combat heat stress
Search for decays at the Belle II experiment
No full textWe present a search for the rare flavor-changing neutral-current decay with data collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider. The analysis uses a 365 fb data sample recorded at the center-of-mass energy of the resonance. One of the mesons produced in the process is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode, while its companion meson is required to decay into a and two leptons of opposite charge. The leptons are reconstructed in final states with a single electron, muon, charged pion or charged meson, and additional neutrinos. We set an upper limit on the branching fraction of at the 90% confidence level, which is the most stringent constraint reported to date
Isolation and characterization of carbapenem-resistant bacteria from various aquatic environments
No full textKarbapenemi so betalaktamski antibiotiki, ki se uporabljajo kot zadnja možnost zdravljenja okužb, povzročenih z večkratno odpornimi bakterijami. Širjenje proti karbapenemom odpornih bakterij, ki niso omejene le na bolnišnično okolje, je še posebej skrb vzbujajoče. Proti karbapenemom odporne bakterije so bile v vodnem okolju izven Slovenije že večkrat potrjene. Raziskave o prisotnosti teh bakterij v naravnem okolju v Sloveniji pa so trenutno zelo omejene. Namen naše naloge je bil opredeliti prisotnost in razširjenost proti karbapenemom odpornih bakterij v sladkovodnih okoljih v Sloveniji. V ta namen smo vzorčili vodo in sediment na 10 lokacijah v koroški in štajerski statistični regiji. Iz vzorcev vode in sedimenta smo na gojišču mSCA osamili bakterije, jih identificirali s pomočjo masne spektrometrije MALDI TOF in jim določili odpornost proti meropenemu in imipenemu. V nadaljevanju smo pri izolatih, odpornih proti meropenemu/imipenemu, s fenotipskim testom CIM preverili, ali je odpornost proti karbapenemom posledica izločanja karbapenemaz, z metodo PCR pa nadalje okarakterizirali gene za karbapenemaze. Skupaj smo pridobili 201 izolatov, od katerih je bilo 33 odpornih proti meropenemu ali imipenemu glede na disk difuzijski antibiogram. Več kot polovica odpornih izolatov je pripadalo družini Enterobacteriaceae. S testom CIM smo potrdili izločanje karbapenemaz pri 24 izolatih. Z molekularno analizo pa smo gene za karbapenemaze blaOXA-48, blaNDM, blaVIM ali blaKPC potrdili pri 21 izolatih. Nekateri izolati vrste Klebsiella pneumoniae so imeli hkrati dva gena za karbapenemaze, in sicer blaNDM in blaOXA-48 oziroma blaVIM in blaOXA-48. V vodi in sedimentu smo tako potrdili prisotnost bakterij, ki izločajo karbapenemaze in so odporne proti karbapenemom, mehanizmi odpornosti pa so enaki kot pri izolatih iz kliničnega okolja.Carbapenems are beta-lactam antibiotics used as a last resort to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. The spread of carbapenem-resistant bacteria, which is not limited to hospital settings, is particularly concerning. Carbapenem-resistant bacteria have been confirmed several times in aquatic environments outside Slovenia. Research on the presence of these bacteria in the natural environment in Slovenia is currently very limited. The aim of our study was to determine the presence and prevalence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in freshwater environments in Slovenia. To this end, we sampled water and sediment at 10 locations in the Koroška and Štajerska statistical regions. From the water and sediment samples, we isolated bacteria on mSCA medium, identified them using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and determined their resistance to meropenem and imipenem. We then used the CIM phenotypic test to assess whether resistance to carbapenems in meropenem/imipenem-resistant isolates was due to the secretion of carbapenemases, and further characterised the carbapenemase genes using PCR. A total of 201 isolates were obtained, of which 33 were resistant to meropenem or imipenem according to the disc diffusion antibiogram. More than half of the resistant isolates belonged to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The CIM test confirmed the secretion of carbapenemases in 24 isolates. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of the carbapenemase genes blaOXA-48, blaNDM, blaVIM, or blaKPC in 21 isolates. Some isolates of the species Klebsiella pneumoniae had two carbapenemase genes, namely blaNDM and blaOXA-48 or blaVIM and blaOXA-48. We thus confirmed the presence of bacteria that secrete carbapenemases and are resistant to carbapenems in water and sediment, and the that resistance mechanisms are the same as in isolates from the clinical environment
Integrated low-temperature washing and drying for sustainable hygiene of domestic laundry
No full textLow-temperature laundering is promoted to reduce the environmental impact of domestic textile carehowever, washing at ≤ 40 °C is insufficient for hygienic decontamination, rendering the drying stage critical, as microbial survival strongly depends on moisture availability and drying conditions. This study systematically investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of low-temperature washing combined with different drying methods under controlled, household-relevant conditions, and directly links hygiene performance to environmental impact using life cycle assessment (LCA). Cotton carriers inoculated with representative bioindicators were washed at 30 °C using a commercial detergent and subsequently dried by high- and low-temperature tumble drying, controlled indoor air drying, and simulated outdoor solar exposure (Xenotest). Low-temperature washing alone resulted in limited microbial reduction, whereas drying led to substantial additional inactivation. Both high- and low-temperature tumble drying eliminated most microorganisms (>7 log CFU cm⁻²), while simulated indoor air drying achieved significant reductions (∼6 log CFU cm⁻²), indicating that moisture reduction is a dominant mechanism of microbial inactivation, even without elevated drying temperatures. In this respect Xenotest treatment was less effective. The LCA showed that drying accounts for more than 50 % of the total environmental impact of the laundering process, with low-temperature tumble drying reducing overall impacts by approximately 20 % compared to high-temperature drying due to lower electricity consumption. By quantitatively linking microbial hygiene outcomes with environmental impacts, this study provides decision-relevant evidence for optimising domestic laundry practices, demonstrating that energy-efficient drying strategies can compensate for the hygienic limitations of low-temperature washing while significantly reducing the environmental footprint of textile care
Hybrid electrospun fibers for rapid delivery of Lactobacillus paragasseri K7 and lactoferrin as live biotherapeutics and postbiotics
No full textThis study explores the development of electrospun nanofibrous materials as delivery systems for the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paragasseri K7 (LK7) and the bioactive glycoprotein lactoferrin (LF) with applications targeting vaginal health. Electrospinning was used to encapsulate LK7 and LF into poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based nanofibers supported on polypropylene fabric. Three formulations─PEO/LF, PEO/lactobacilli (LB) (with LK7), and PEO/LF/LB─were characterized for their physicochemical properties, fiber morphology (SEM), chemical composition (FTIR, XPS), and antioxidant activity (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay). SEM analysis confirmed successful nanofiber formation, though LK7 remained on the fiber surface due to its size. FTIR and XPS analyses verified the incorporation of functional groups and elements associated with LF and LK7. The antioxidant assays showed that both LF and LK7 exhibited strong radical scavenging activity in formulations and it decreased slightly after electrospinning. Among the electrospun samples, the PEO/LF/LB formulation demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential. The viability and release studies revealed that 0.38–0.45% of LK7 survived during the electrospinning process and that the bacterial cells were released rapidly within 1 min of PBS exposure. Storage at 8 or 20 °C under 65% humidity reduced the viability (cfu) further, likely due to a transition to a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. Despite the low survival rates, the immediate release profile and antimicrobial potential of the materials support their suitability for short-term therapeutic applications such as vaginal tampons or wound dressings. This study highlights the potential of nozzle-free electrospinning for developing delivery systems for live biotherapeutics and postbiotics and suggests future work to optimize viability or expand into postbiotic applications
Comparison of classic Sanger and next generation sequencing mitotypes of second world war victims from Konfin I mass grave
No full textRapid technological advancements have significantly enhanced DNA analysis. A key innovation is Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), also known as Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS), which followed classic Sanger (CS) sequencing. Compared to CS, NGS offers higher sensitivity, resolution, and throughput, making it particularly valuable for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. The high copy number, matrilineal inheritance, and non-recombining nature of mtDNA, especially its hypervariable regions (HV), make it highly relevant in forensic investigations. NGS has introduced streamlined protocols and improved low-level heteroplasmy detection in mtDNA sequencing. However, with any new technology, its informativeness and authenticity must be evaluated against traditional methods. This study compared mitotypes from degraded WWII skeletal remains recovered from a Slovenian mass grave, using the same DNA extraction method to minimize pre-sequencing variability. Femurs were mechanically and chemically cleaned, pulverized, and fully demineralized. DNA was extracted and purified using EZ1 Advanced XL and quantified with an in-house protocol. CS sequencing was performed using BigDye Terminator Kit v1.1 and ABI PRISM™ 3130 Genetic Analyzer, while NGS was conducted with the Precision ID mtDNA Control Region Panel and Ion GeneStudio™ S5 System. Comparison of mitotypes revealed that NGS identified low-level heteroplasmies undetectable by CS, particularly in length heteroplasmy. However, since Ion Torrent™ Suite 5.10.1 is prone to errors, certain NGS variants had to be disregarded